Larry Lee Eddings

Funeral services for Larry Lee Eddings, 77, of Sperry, OK, were held Monday, August 24, 2020 at First Baptist Church in Sperry, OK. Pastor Brandon McCombs officiated, and burial was in Rest Haven Cemetery in Sperry, OK. Casket bearers were Buel Anglen, Junior Maybee, Bill Philpott, and Wayne Wheeler. Honorary Casket bearers were Bill Fisher, Drew Wilson, Al Miller, and Charles Rowden.

Larry was born November 8, 1942 in Barnsdall, OK to George Corwon and Irene Laverne (Rose) Eddings. He passed away August 18, 2020 in Tulsa, OK.

Larry moved to Sperry in January 1957 as an 8th grader and graduated from Sperry Schools in 1961. He participated in baseball and football, lettering in both sports. After graduation, Larry went on active duty in the US Army and served six months in Colorado and California. While on leave, Larry married his high school sweetheart and lifetime companion, Melva Anglen. After active duty, Larry went to work for Oklahoma Natural Gas as a meter reader and held various positions of increasing responsibility until his retirement after 39 years of service. Larry’s position at retirement was Director of Taxation for ONEOK, parent company of Oklahoma Natural Gas.

Larry attended evening classes at the University of Tulsa while working at ONEOK, graduating with a degree in Accounting in 1976. Larry also attended The Stone and Webster Executive Management Program in New York, graduating in 1986. He also attended AICPA and university specialized courses on taxation. Larry participated in various professional organizations while employed with ONEOK and served in a position of leadership in those organizations. He served as Chairman of the Southern Gas Association Taxation Committee; President, Vice-President and Treasurer of the OK Chapter of the Tax Executive Institute and was on the National Board of Directors of the Tax Executive Institute. Larry was also on the National Board of Directors of the State and Local Taxation Group, a large group of tax directors specializing in corporate restructuring. He was also selected to serve as a consultant on Senator David Boren’s Value-Added Taxation Study for the U.S. Senate.

He served as a member of the Sperry Board of Education for 13 years, was a member of the Long-Range Planning Commission for the Board of Education and served as President and a member of the Sperry Quarterback Club for many years. He also served as a Loaned Executive for the Tulsa Area United Way, was on the Membership Board for the Tulsa Area YMCA and was a member of many other non-profit organizations. Larry has been a life-time coach of youth baseball from 1970 to present day.

Larry’s fondest memories are of his life-long residence in Sperry, and the many friends he has in the community. Larry enjoyed watching Jay and Jeff compete in sports for Sperry High School and later in college and at the professional level. Larry enjoyed his full-time job of spoiling his four grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Melva Eddings, (SHS graduate, class of 1962); sons, Jay Eddings  (SHS graduate, class of 1983) and fiancé, Jodi Fry, and Jeff Eddings (SHS graduate, class of 1989) and wife, Kari; grandchildren Sarah Eddings (SHS graduate, class of 2013), Ryan Eddings (SHS graduate, class of 2015), Elizabeth Eddings and Reid Eddings (6 grade at Collinsville); brothers, Gary Eddings and wife, Cookie, Kenneth “Kenny” Eddings (SHS graduate, class of 1975), and Jerry Eddings (SHS graduate, class of 1981); and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Corwon and Irene Eddings (SHS graduates, class of 1936).

Arrangements and services were entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry.

Online condolences to the family can be made at johnsonsperry.com.